Decorating machine with timed ink dispenser

ABSTRACT

An improved decorating machine is provided for applying decoration to the outer surfaces of objects such as cans or bottles. The objects to be decorated are moved in a continuous stream past a decorating station. The decoration producing means comprises a plurality of print elements moved on an endless conveyor and adapted to sequentially pick up printing fluid from a fluid dispensing means and apply said printing fluid to the outer surfaces of said articles as they move past said decorating station. The fluid dispensing means is adapted to dispense a measured amount of printing fluid evenly on the print elements as they move therepast. The printing fluid is dispensed through an aperture in a fluid container which is adapted to open and close in timed sequence to the movement of the print elements therepast. The configuration of the aperture and the timing of its opening and closing ensures a uniform distribution of printing fluid, thereby to provide a decoration having a uniform image.

United States Patent Rossi 1 51 Sept. 16, 1975 l DECORATING MACHINE WITHTIMED INK DISPENSER 3,621,779 11/1971 Carl et all w. 101/366 PrimaryExaminer-Robert E. Pulfrey Inventor: Amhony Rossi [800 Point AssistantExaminerClifford D. Crowder Pleasant Ave, Bradenton, Fla. 3 3505 57ABSTRACT 1 Filedi M311 1971 An improved decorating machine is providedfor apl in decoration to the outer surfaces of ob'ects such 1 A 1. N .1128,246 PY g 1 [2 pp 0 as cans or bottles. The ob ects to be decoratedare moved in a continuous stream past a decorating sta- [52] US. Cl. 11/ 101/123; 1 tion. The decoration producing means comprises a l l/367plurality of print elements moved on an endless con- [51] Int. Cl B411-17/22 yor and adapted to sequentially pick up printing [58] Field ofSearch .1 l0l/38-40. fluid from a fluid dispensing means and apply said3 367 printing fluid to the outer surfaces of said articles as they movepast said decorating station. The fluid dis- [56] Ref r nces Ci pensingmeans is adapted to dispense a measured UNITED STATES PATENTS amount ofprinting fluid evenly on the print elements 443,050 12/1390 Kerr .w101/367 x as they herepast The Priming fluid is dispensed L275256 8H9;Dem 101/367 through an aperture in a flu1d container which is 2,143,8851/1939 Kline 101/366 adapted to p n n lose in timed sequence to the2.189.765 2/1940 Tukats h l01/367 UX movement of the print elementstherepast. The config- 2,767647 10/1956 g 1 X uration of the apertureand the timing of its opening 293 x0 5/1960 g l01/40 UX and closingensures a uniform distribution of printing 3303754 3/1967 01/366 Xfluid, thereby to provide a decoration having a uni- 3,407,729 10/1968Stach .1 101/366 X form ima ge. 3,503.32) 3/1970 Ross1 1 1 1 1 1 101/403,543.680 12/1970 Killcn et a1. 101/40 16 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures wt:0 T a 2: m 1 J0 A 142 I? y y 1/ '1 74 1 4 \K 2:9 I II I N1 40 i 22 1 7/I, as 1 m I w 1 o t: 4} I \L' 0 0 I 4? III 4| 1 .e 1 r J 1' 7a 1 a! 4 Ti to w 1 J0 PATENTEU 1 5% 3,905,292

SHEET 1 [1F 4 ANTHONY 7. 2056/ ATTORNEY INVENTOR ATTORNEY LIE.

14m 3 OF 1 PATENTH! SEP 6 I975 3m u or 4 PATEN IE1] SEP I 6 i975ATTORNEY DECORATING MACHINE WITH TIMEI) INK DISPENSER The presentinvention relates to decorating machines and more particularly tomachines of the type adapted to apply a printed decoration upon objectsin a eontinu ous fashion.

Goods or articles are normally marketed in containers or packages havingdecorations on the outer surface thereof. Such decorations may rangefrom simple idcntifying printed matter to rather complicated pictorialdesigns. In some cases, it is not feasible or practical to apply therequired decoration to the container surface during fabrication thereof.In such cases. for example when the container is a glass bottle or othermolded article, it has been found convenient to apply the decoration toan outer surface of the containerjust prior to its being filled with theproduct. While the decoration may be printed on labels and the labelssubsequently affixed to the articles by adhesive or the like, thisprocess is rather time consuming and expensive and results in aninferior appearance.

In the past, machines have been designed which are adapted to applydecorations directly to articles such as bottles or the like. One suchmachine is disclosed in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,269,305 of Aug. 30,1966, entitled Machine for Printing Upon Bottles and Similar Articles. Amajor drawback of machines of the type there disclosed is that theyoperate intermittently. The objects to be decorated are moved to adecorating station. their travel through the machine is interruptedwhile the decoration is being applied to them. and then they are movedaway out from the decorating station. This gives rise to appreciablemachine complexity, pro duces excessive internal stresses in themachine. requiring the use of structures which are overly heavy so as tobe capable of withstanding those stresses, and otherwise greatly limitsproductivity.

A second drawback of machines of this type is that the printing fluidsupply is generally carried directly on the decoration applying meansand thus requires frequent refilling which necessitates substantial downtime of the machine. Some machines of this type utilize a main fluidsupply means. However, these arrangements have proved relativelyunsatisfactory. Thus, the use of a wick or roller pickup from acontinuous printing fluid supply generally results in an unevendistribution of printing fluid on the fluid applying means. In additionsuch devices are often ineffective to dispense the required quantitiesof printing fluid from the supply con tainer to the wick or rollersurface without a substantial loss or drying up". This problem isparticularly significant in machines of the intermittent type. Thus. dryink tends to rapidly build up on the wick or roller surface, requiringfrequent cleaning or replacement of such parts. In addition. each timethe machine is stopped for any appreciable length of time, these partsmust be wiped clean in order to avoid excessive ink build-up.

It is a primary object of the present invention to design an improveddecorating machine which substantially eliminates all of the foregoingdifficulties of prior art devices.

It is another object of the present invention to design a printing headassembly for a decorating machine of the type described wherein printingfluid is dispensed from a main supply unit in timed sequence with themovement of the fluid applying elements therepast.

It is still another object of the present invention to dcsign animproved decorating machine of the type adapted to apply a decoration toa plurality of objects in a continuous fashion, wherein the means tomove the objects and fluid applying elements and the fluid dispensingmechanism are all adapted to operate in a continuous synchronizedmanner.

It is yet another object of the present invention to design an improvedfluid dispensing system for use with a decorating machine adapted todispense a measured amount of printing fluid evenly upon a fluidapplying element in timed relationship with the movement of saidelement.

To the accomplishment of the above, the present invention comprises adecorating machine wherein arti cles are adapted to have applied totheir outer surfaces a decoration at a decoration station. Means areprovided for conveying a continuous stream of articles past thedecorating station. The decoration producing means comprises a pluralityof print elements mounted on an endless conveyor means and adapted tosequentially move past a printing fluid dispensing means and thedecorating station. Accordingly, said printing ele ments are adapted topick up a measured amount of printing fluid and apply said printingfluid through a silk screen or the like at said decorating station ontothe outer surface of the articles moving therepast.

The supply means comprises a fluid container having an aperture therein.A shutter mechanism is adapted to open and close the container aperturein timed sequence with the movement of the printing elements therepast.A measured amount of printing fluid is dispcnsed through said containeraperture onto the printing element and the printing element proceeds tothe decorating station whereupon said measured amount of printing fluidis applied evenly to the surface of an object moving therepast. Thearticles are moved past said decorating station while rotatably mountedin holders and means are provided for rotating said articles within saidholders as they traverse the decorating station in timed sequence withthe application of the printing fluid to the outer surface thereof. Theink supply container is continuously filled with printing ink through anappropriate pump and hose connection.

To the accomplishment of the above and to such other objects as mayhereinafter appear the present invention comprises a decorating machinehaving an improved printing head assembly as defined in the ap pendedclaims and as described in this specification. taken together with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the decorating station andprinting head assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side clevational view, partly broken away, of the decoratingmachine of the present invention showing the infeed and outfeed sectionsand the decorating machine.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the decorating machine of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the printing headassembly of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the fluid dispensingcontainer and associated printing elements;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the printing fluid dispensingcontainer;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the printing fluid dispensingcontainer taken generally through the line 77 of FIG. 6 and showing thecontainer in the open position;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the container in FIG. 7 partly broken away;and

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the container of FIG. 6 similar toFIG. 8 but showing the container in the closed position.

The machine of the present invention comprises a framework generallydesignated A on which the various operative parts are mounted. Thedetails of that framework form no special part of the present inventionand hence are here shown only in fragmentary and schematic fashion. Themachine is adapted to be driven in any appropriate manner as by means ofthe motor B shown in FIG. 2 with appropriate drive mechanisms generallydesignated C. The machine may generally be considered as consisting of aplurality of sections, to wit, the infeed section generally designated Dwhich takes the articles and deposits them on the main conveyor linegenerally designated E. the decorating station generally designated F,where decoration is applied to the outer surface of the articles, and anoutput section G which carries the bottles away from the decoratingmachine usually to a station where they are filled.

The embodiment have illustrated and specifically described by way ofexample is designed for use with cylindrical bottles H having a circularcross section. The invention, however. is not so limited and may bedesigned for use with a variety of objects having a variety of shapes.

The details of the infeed section are best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Thebottles H may be fed to the machine in an appropriate manner, as byconveyor 2 (which forms no part of the present invention but may be anysuitable conveyor available in the plant in which the machine of thepresent invention is to be used) with the bottles in the customaryupright position. The conveyor 2 feeds the bottles H into a helicalrotated feed screw 4 mounted on the frame parallel to the conveyor, thepitch of the screw 4 being such that a bottle is received between eachpair of opposed screw threads. Thus the feed screw 4 moves the bottlesfrom right to left (as viewed in FIG. 2) while maintaining them spacedfrom one another in the desired fashion. As best shown in FIG. 3 thebottles H are maintained in abutting relationship with feed screw 4 bymeans ofa spring biased guide rail 6, the springs 8 being provided toaccommodate articles of various sizes.

As shown in FIG. 3. the bottles are fed by feed screw 4 to the mainconveyor system E. Conveyor system E comprises a continuous belt or linkchain I mounted on sprocket wheels 12 and I4 which in turn are rotatableon vertical shafts l6 and 18, respectively. A horizontal guide shaft ofany suitable configuration is arms 26. A roller 28 is rotatably mountedon the end of each arm 26 by any suitable means such as pins 30. Rollers28 are thus freely rotatable and are adapted to engage the outer surfaceof a bottle H when the latter is received within the holder 20 in afashion such that it is readily rotatable about its vertical axis.

As may be seen from FIG. 3., a bottle H as it reaches the end of feedscrew 4 is picked up by a holder 22. which holder is adapted to guidethe bottle along shaft 20 past decorating station F. A vertical guideplate 32 is laterally spaced from the front flight of conveyor 10 andmaintains bottles H within their respective holders 22 centered onvertical support shaft 20 as the bottles approach the decorating stationF. Guide plate 32 is provided with a slightly flared portion 34 (seeFIG. 3) at the infeed end of conveyor belt 10 to insure a smoothtransition of the bottles H from feed screw 4 to holders 22. Thetransition from conveyor 2 to support shaft 20 is accomplished by meansof a suitable platform 36 (FIG. 3).

The bottles are retained in properly spaced relation by holders 22 asthey traverse the decorating station as will be described hereinafter inmore detail. are removed from their respective holders 22 at thelefthand end of the machine (as viewed in the drawings) in anyappropriate fashion and are conveyed away from the machine as by anoutput conveyor 38 similar to input conveyor 2.

The decorating station F comprises means to apply printing fluid to theouter surface of bottles H in continuous fashion through a silk screendevice or the like. As best shown in FIG. I, an appropriately designedsilk screen 40 is mounted in a longitudinally extending frameworkgenerally designated 42 comprising top and bottom walls 44 and 46,respectively, side walls 48 and a front panel 50 facing conveyor belt[0. The bottles H are moved past the decorating station within holders22 in the guideway defined between belt 10 and panel 50. A pairoflongitudinally extending strips 52 ofa suitable material, such asneoprene. are mounted along the top and bottom edges, respectively, ofpanel 50 facing bottles H and are spaced so as to firmly engage theouter surfaces of the bottles at the top and bottom portions of the mainbody thereof below the necks.

The entire silk screen frame 42 is mounted on the framework A by a pairof mounting members 53 se cured to side walls 48 thereof in anyappropriate manner, said mounting members being secured to shafts 54which in turn are slidably mounted in mounting blocks 56 and retainedtherein by any suitable means. Mounting blocks 56 are in turn mounted onhorizontal support members 57 comprising a portion of framework A (fourblocks are provided. one at each corner of the frame. only two beingshown in FIG. I The frame 42 is spring biased outwardly from supportmembers 57 toward belt I0 by means of compression coil springs 58mounted concentrically on shafts 54 between mounting members 53 andblocks 56. Accordingly. the strips 52 are effective to exert a firmlateral pressure on the outer surface of bottles H. said bottles beingpressed against freely rotatable rollers 28 on holders 22. As thebottles move longitudinally along the silk screen frame. the friction ofstrips 52 is effective to rotate the bottles H within holders 22. Theouter surfaces of the bottles thus have zero velocity relative to theframe 42 and merely roll therealong.

The decorations are applied to the outer surfaces of the bottles H asthey move past the silk screen 41) by means of a printing head assemblygenerally designated 58. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 assembly 58comprises a pair of shafts 60 and 62 rotatably mounted \ertically onframework A between support members 57, and on which are mountedsprocket wheels 64 and 66, respectively. An endless belt or link chain68 extends around sprocket wheels 60 and 62 and is adapted to be driventhereby in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 4). Mountedon the outer surface of chain 68 and spaced along its length are aplurality of printing elements such as squeegces 70. (The term printingelements herein includes any device which may be adapted to pick upprinting fluid from a dispenser and deposit said fluid by pressure on anobject engaged therewith.) As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, printingelement 70 comprises a mounting structure generally designated 71 inwhich is mounted a resilient wiper 73 extending therefrom. Wiper 73 maybe made of any suitable resilient material such as neoprene. The spacingof printing elements 70 on chain 68 corresponds to the spacing ofholders 22 on belt so that, as best seen in FIG. 4, as each bottle H iscarried by its holder 22 past silk screen 40, a printing element movesparallel thereto with its wiper tip pressing against the other side ofthe silk screen 40, substantially in synchronism and registration with abottle H.

As best shown in FIG. 1, chain guide elements 72 and 74 are mounted onhorizontal support members 57 by means of a plate 76 fastened to the topof support member 57 at a position thereon directly opposite silk screen40. Guide elements 72 and 74 define a channel 78 effective to guidechain 68 in the region of silk screen 40. As perhaps best seen in FIG.5, the chain links 80 upon which printing elements 70 are mounted aregreater in height than the remaining links 81 and extend upwardlytherefrom a substantial distance. Guide element 72 is provided withgradually curved end surfaces 82 and 84 coterminous with a straightguide surface 86 defining one wall of guide channel 78. Thus as anenlarged link 80 comes off sprocket wheel 66 the upper extending portionthereof engages end surface 84 ofguidc element 72 and is guided intochan nel 78. The straight guide surface 86 of guide element 72corresponds in length to the length of the design on silk screen 40. Theguide elements 72 and 74 are mounted slightly laterally outwardly froman imaginary line defining a common tangent between sprocket wheels 64and 66 and thus effective, when a link 80 is captured within channel 78,to pull that link farther outwardly from the sprocket wheels than itsunimpeded travel would carry it. By virtue of this arrangement, as aprinting element 70 leaves sprocket wheel 66 and approaches the silkscreen frame 42 it is guided in its travel by guide members 72 and 74and pressed firmly into engagement with the silk screen 40 making itsfirst point of contact therewith at the extreme righthand edge of thesilk screen design. As the printing element 70 traverses the silkscreen, it is maintained in engagement therewith under constant pressureby means of the engagement of the straight guide surface 86 of guideelement 72 with the link 80 upon which such printing element is mounted.The printing clement breaks contact with the silk screen precisely atthe end of the design thereon as a result of curved guide surface 84positioned in registration therewith, thereby preventing any blurring ofthe printed design. It will be ap parent that in this manner each bottleH as it rolls along silk screen 40 is adapted to have applied to theouter surface thereof a decoration by means of a quantity of printingfluid forced under pressure through silk screen 40.

The manner in which the printing fluid is supplied to printing elementswill now be described in detail. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 a fluiddispensing means generally designated 88 is provided adjacent theprinting assembly chain 68 at the opposite side thereof from silk screenframe 42. It comprises a fluid dispensing container 89 mounted betweenstructural members 90 and 92 secured to and extending laterally out fromsupport members 57, and a control mechanism therefore generallydesignated 94.

Referring to FIG. 7 it willl be seen that container 89 comprises anouter cylindrical casing 96 and an inner cylindrical container or cage98 concentric therewith. Cage 98 is closed at its top and bottom ends bycover members or lids 100 and 102, respectively, which are scalinglysecured thereto in any suitable manner. Cover members 100 and 102 areprovided with central aper tures 104 and 106, respectively, receiving ashaft 108 which extends axially through cage 98. A pair of closuremembers 110 and 112 are plugged into the open top and bottom ends,respectively, of outer cylinder 96 and secured thereto in any suitablemanner. Shaft 108 extends through apertures 104 and 106 in cover members100 and 102, respectively, and is rotatably received at its lower end ina low friction bushing 114 within a central recess 116 in closure member112, bushing 114 having a flanged portion adapted to space the innercover member 102 from closure member 112. Cage 98 is secured fast onshaft 108 by suitable means such as by soldering at apertures 104 and106. Upper closure member 110 is provided with a central aperture 118within which is securely mounted a low friction bearing 120. Shaft 108is rotatably received in bearing 120 and extends through an aperture 121in structural member 90 at its upper end. Accordingly, shaft 108 andcage 98 are rotatable within casing 96. Closure members 110 and 112 ofcasing 96 are secured to structural members 90 and 92, respectively, bysuitable means such as bolts 122 and 124, respectively (FIG. 8).

The outer casing 96 is provided with a narrow vertical slot 126centrally located on the cylinder surface and has parallel vertical sidewalls 128 and 130. The inner cylindrical cage 98 is also provided with avertical slot 132 centrally located thereon, said slot being slightlylonger than slot 126 in cylinder 96 and having side walls 134 and 136.As best seen in FIG. 6, slot 132, at its extreme lower end has a widthsubstantially equal to that of slot 126. However, the left hand sidewall 136 is slightly inclined to the left of the vertical so that thewidth of slot 132 increases toward its upper end. In a typicalembodiment tapered slot 132 will increase in width from about onefourthinch at its lower end to about seven-sixteenth inch at its upper end.

As best seen in FIGS. 6-9, a porous pad 137 is mounted adjacent sidewall of slot 126 on outer cylinder 96 by suitable mounting structuresuch as angle bar 139 and extends outwardly from slot 126 generallytangentially to cylinder 96. Cage 98 is filled with printing fluidthrough a hose 141 having an end communicating therewith and ismaintained full under a substantially constant pressure by means of afluid pump (not shown) operatively connected to the other end of hoseI4I.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a 'I" shaped timii 3 arm generallydesignated 138 comprising a base arm 140 and a cross bar 142 is fixedlysecured to shaft I08 at the free end of base arm 140 by any suitablemeans such as screw I44. arm 140 being rotatable with shaft 108 on abearing I41 through which shaft 108 extends. As best shown in FIG. theend of cross bar 142 extending toward chain 68 is provided with avertically depending shaft I46 having an enlarged cylindrical roller 148at its lower free end. The opposite end of cross bar 142 is secured toone end of a tension spring 150 (indicated schematically in thedrawings). the other end of spring I50 being secured to framework A, asat support member 57. Roller 148 is generally situated in the line oftravel of long links 80 somewhat above the line of travel of printingelements 70 and short links 81.

In its normal position timing arm 138 is spring biased by spring I50 inthe counterclockwise directi n. the other end of shaft 146 engaging thestructural member 90 which serves as a stop member (see FIG. I and solidline position of FIG. 4). Accordingly, shaft I08 and cage 98 are biasedcounterclockwise to the position shown in FIG. 9. As there shown taperedslot 132 in cage 98 is offset from straight slot I26 in thecounterclockwise direction, there being no communication therebetween.

In operation a plurality of bottles are fed to the ma chine in themanner hereinbefore described and the bottles are carried past the silkscreen frame 42 at the decorating station in properly spacedrelationship, each bottle being rolled along the frame within holders22. At the same time continuous conveyor chain 68 moves around sprocketwheels 64 and 66 at a peripheral speed equal to the speed at whichbottles H are moved along the silk screen frame 42, the printingelements 70 carried thereby being spaced and timed so that a printingelement and a container meet, one on each side of silk screen 40,precisely at the righthand edge of the silk screen design.

Each time a printing element moves past the fluid dispensing means 88the long link 80 upon which it is mounted engages roller 148 on timingarm 138 and is effective as it moves therepast to rotate the timing arm138 in a clockwise direction (see FIG. 5). As best shown by the brokenline position of FIG. 4, this occurs just after the printing element hasmoved past the fluid dispensing container 89. The clockwise rotation oftiming arm 138 is effective to rotate shaft 108 and cage 98 within outercylinder 96 to the relative position shown in FIG. 8 in which slots 126and 132 are in full registration. As the long link 80 moves beyondroller 148 the timing arm is returned in a counterclockwise direction toits normal position by the action of spring 150. (See solid lineposition of FIG. 4)v As a result shaft 108 and cage 98 are also rotatedcounterclockwise back to the closed position shown in FIG. 9, in whichslots 126 and 132 are again out of registration. During the intervalwhen link 80 is engaged with roller 148 a measured amount of printingfluid is dispensed from container 89 through slots I26 and 132. saidfluid being adapted to be picked up by the wiper 73 on the next printingmember 70. However. because of the decrease in fluid pres sure withincontainer 89 from the top to the bottom thereof in accordance with knownhydraulic principles and the time interval between the emission of theprinting fluid and the pickup action of the wiper on the next printingelement, a uniform emission of fluid through straight slot I26 willresult in an uneven distribution of fluid picked up by wiper 73 as itpasses container 89. Accordingly, the amount of incline of side wall 136of the tapered slot 126 is chosen to compensate precisely for thisphenomenon. Thus as cage 98 is rotated counterclockwise the side wallI36 at the upper end of slot 132 first comes into registration with thestraight slot 126. Accordingly, printing fluid is dispensed from thecontainer at the upper end of the slots for a longer period of time thanfrom the lower portions thereof. This longer period of emission isadapted to overcompensate for the increased rate of fluid flow at thelower end of the slot which would otherwise result from the increasedfluid pressure in that region. Thus a greater amount of fluid isdispensed at the top of the slot. Once the fluid is dispensed and theslots move out of registration there is a tendency for the fluid to dripdownwardly along the container wall prior to being picked up by thewiper 73 of the next printing element 70, the amount of drip dependingprimarily on the viscosity of the fluid Thus, the degree of incline ofside wall 136 of slot 132 is chosen, in accordance with the viscosity ofthe printing fluid used and the length of the slot. to result in asubstantially uniform deposition of fluid on the operative surfaceofwipers 73 which of course are ofa length corresponding to the lengthof slot 126. The length of slot 126 and wipers 73 are chosen to coincidewith the height of the design on silk screen 40 to be printed on bottlesH. In practice the tapered slot 132 may be made long enough to be usedwith the largest design contemplated and a plurality of outer cylinders96 having slots I26 of a variety of sizes may be provided so that it isonly necessary to replace the outer cylinder for a change in decorationsize. Alternatively. outer cylinder 96 may be provided with a series ofvertical slots 126 of different sizes spaced around its pe riphery, basearm 140 and shaft I08 being provided with a corresponding number ofsecuring means to se cure timing arm 138 on the shaft 108 in theappropriate angular position for use with the desired slot.

After the wiper picks up the printing fluid from the outer surface ofcylinder 89 it is moved over porous pad I37 which is effective to removeexcess fluid therefrom and disperse the fluid evenly thereover. Theprinting element is subsequently moved around sprocket wheel 66 and intofirm engagement with silk screen 40. The printing fluid is evenlydispersed through the silk screen design onto the outer surface of abottle H as it rolls therealong on the other side of the design. The operative length of the silk screen 40 is so correlated to thecircumference of the bottle H that decoration is applied to all or anydesired portion of the outer surface of the bottle.

The thus decorated bottle H is carried onto outlet conveyor 38 andreleased from its holder 22 which is carried around sprocket wheel 12 bybelt 10.

If a multi-colored decoration is desired, a plurality of decoratingstations F may be provided along the main conveyor assembly E, saidstations being properly spaced so as to provide precise registration ofthe differently colored decorations sequentially applied to the outersurface of bottles H.

The driving mechanism C may take a wide variety of forms. As heredisclosed in FIG. 2 the motor B drives a belt I60 which in turn, througha gear reducer 162.

drives a belt or sprocket chain 164 which rotates wheel 166 on shaft168. The righthand end of the drive shaft I68, through gearing 170,shaft 172 and gearing I74 rotates, the helical screw 4. The lefthand endof the shaft 168 through the gearing 176 drives shaft [78 which in turnthrough gearing 180 rotates shaft 60 and sprocket wheel 64 in order tomove the link chain 68 which carries the printing elements 70. Thelefthand end of shaft 168, through gearing 182 also rotates shaft 16 andsprocket wheel 12, that sprocket wheel in turn moving the chain and thebottle holders 22. Thus, synchronism of various parts of the machine ispositively assured.

it will be apparent from the foregoing that with the machine of thepresent invention a decoration of virtually any desired type may beapplied continuously to articles such as bottles, cans or the like in asimple and effective manner. A uniform and continuous operation isensured by the provision of a continuous printing fluid dispensing meansin which a measured amount of printing fluid is dispensed evenly on thewiper of a printing element in timed sequence with its movement past thedecorating station. The printing fluid supply container is continuouslymaintained filled under a relatively constant pressure whereby themachine may opcrate continuously for substantial periods without thenecessity of replenishing the printing fluid supply. The apparatus issimple, all of the operating parts are readily accessible, propersynchronization of the various parts is achieved in an effective manner,and the machine may be readily adapted to operate on many differentkinds of objects and on many different sizes of objects and to producedecorations of virtually any desired character.

While only a single preferred embodiment of the present invention isherein specifically described, it will be appreciated that manyvariations may be made therein, all within the scope of the presentinvention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a decorating machine for printing a decoration on the surface ofan object at a decorating station, having means for moving said objectspast said decorating station in a given direction with theirdecorationrecciving surfaces facing said decorating station, theimprovement comprising a printing assembly at said decorating stationcomprising a plurality of print applying means for applying printingfluid to said decorationreceiving surfaces of said objects, a supplymeans adapted when actuated to supply printing fluid directly to saidapplying means, means to move said print applying means sequentiallypast said supply means and said decorating station in synchronism withthe movement of said objects past said decorating station, each of saidprint applying means in sequence picking up printing fluid directly fromsaid supply means and applying said printing fluid to thedecoration-receiving surfaces of said object at said decorating station,and means to actuate said supply means each time one of said printapplying means moves therepast, to dispense a separate measured amountof printing fluid to each of said print applying means on each saidactuation.

2. The decorating machine of claim 1, wherein said object moving meansincludes means for holding objects with their decorating surfaces facingsaid decorating station and for permitting said objects to rotate aboutan axis substantially parallel to said surface and substantiallyperpendicular to said given direction. and means at said decoratingstation to rotate said objects relative to said holding means as saidprinting fluid is applied by said applying means.

3. In a decorating machine for printing a decoration on the surface ofan object at a decorating station, having means for moving said objectspast said decorating station in a given direction with theirdecorationreceiving surfaces facing said decorating station, theimprovement comprising a printing assembly at said decorating stationcomprising a plurality of print applying means for applying printingfluid to said decorationreceiving surfaces of said objects, a supplymeans adapted when actuated to supply printing fluid directly to saidapplying means, means to move said print applying means sequentiallypast said supply means and said decorating station in synchronism withthe movement of said objects past said decorating station, each of saidprint applying means in sequence picking up printing fluid directly fromsaid supply means and applying said printing fluid to thedecoration-receiving surfaces of said object at said decorating station,and means to actuate said supply means each time one of said printapplying means moves therepast, thereby to dispense a separate measuredamount of printing fluid to each of said print applying means, saidsupply means comprising container means having an aperture, closuremeans effective in a first position relative to said container means tocloss off said aperture to prevent the flow of printing fluidtherethrough, and means operatively connected to said applying meansmoving means to move said closure means to a second position, relativeto said container, in which said aperture is open to permit the flow offluid therethrough.

4. The decorating machine of claim 3, wherein said closure meanscomprises shutter means mounted outwardly of said container means andmovable relative thereto.

5. The decorating machine of claim 4, wherein said container iscylindrical and wherein said aperture means comprises an axiallyextending slot therein, said shutter means being cylindrical and beingmounted concentrically of said container and also having an axiallyextending slot therein, said container being rotatable within saidshutter cylinder to bring said container slot into and out ofregistration with said shutter slot.

6. The decorating machine of claim 5 further comprising a rotatablymounted shaft, said container being fixed on said shaft for rotationtherewith, linkage means operatively connected to said shaft forrotating same upon actuation thereof, means to bias said linkage meansto a first position wherein said container slot is out of registrationwith said shutter slot and means on said applying means moving means toactuate said linkage means thereby to rotate said shaft to bring saidcontainer slot into registration with said shutter slot.

7. The decorating machine of claim 6, wherein said container means ismounted with its axis extending vertically and wherein said axiallyextending slot in said container means is tapered from top to bottomthereby to account for fluid pressure differentials within saidcontainer.

8. The decorating machine of claim 7, wherein said tapered slot in saidcontainer means has a width at its reduced bottom end substantiallyequal to the width of said shutter slot.

9. The decorating machine of claim 8 wherein said tapered slot has afirst side wall substantially vertical and a second side wall inclinedupwardly away from said first side wall.

10. in a decorating machine for printing a decoration on the surface ofan object at a decorating station. hav ing means for moving said objectspast said decorating station in a given direction with theirdecorationreceiving surfaces facing said decorating station. theimprovement comprising a printing assembly at said decorating stationcomprising a plurality of print apply ing means for applying printingfluid to said decoration receiving surfaces of said objects, a supplymeans adapted when actuated to supply printing fluid directly to saidapplying means means to move said print applying means sequentially pastsaid supply means and said decorating station in synchronism with themovement of said objects past said decorating station, each of saidprint applying means in sequence picking up printing fluid directly fromsaid supply means and applying said printing fluid to thedecoration-receiving surfaces of said object at said decorataing stationand means to ac tuate said supply means each time one of said printapplying means moves therepast, thereby to dispense a separate measuredamount of printing fluid to each of said print applying means, whereinsaid object moving means includes means for holding objects with theirdecorating surfaces facing said decorating station and for permittingsaid objects to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to saidsurface and substantially perpendicular to said given direction. andmeans at said decorating station to rotate said objects relative to saidholding means as said printing fluid is applied by said applying meanswherein said supply means comprises container means having an aperture,closure means effective in a first position relative to said containermeans to close off said aperture to prevent the flow of printing fluidtherethrough, and means operatively con nected to said applying meansmoving means to move said closure means to a second position relative tosaid (all container in which said aperture is open to permit the flow offluid therethrough.

ll. The decorating machine of claim It), wherein said closure meanscomprises shutter means mounted outwardly of said container means andmovable rela tive thereto.

l2. The decorating machine of claim ll, wherein said container iscylindrical and wherein said aperture means comprises an axiallyextending slot therein. said shutter means being cylindrical and beingmounted concentrically of said container and also having an axiallyextending slot therein said container being rotatable within saidshutter cylinder to bring said container slot into and out ofregistration with said shutter slot.

13. The decorating machine of claim 12 further comprising a rotatablymounted shaft, said container being fixed on said shaft for rotationtherewith linkage means operatively connected to said shaft for rotatingsame upon actuation thereof, means to bias said link age mechanism to afirst position wherein said container slot is out of registration withsaid shutter slot and means on said applying means moving means to actuate said linkage mechanism thereby to rotate said shaft to bring saidcontainer slot into registration with said shutter slot.

14. The decorating machine of claim [3, wherein said container means ismounted with its axis extending vertically and wherein said axiallyextending slot in said container means is tapered from top to bottomthereby to account for fluid pressure differentials within saidcontainer.

15. The decorating machine of claim [4, wherein said tapered slot insaid container means has a width at its reduced bottom end substantiallyequal to the width of said shutter slot.

[6. The decorating machine of claim 15, wherein said tapered slot has afirst side wall substantially vertical and a second side wall inclinedupwardly away from said first side wall.

1. In a decorating machine for printing a decoration on the surface ofan object at a decorating station, having means for moving said objectspast said decorating station in a given direction with theirdecoration-receiving surfaces facing said decorating station, theimprovement comprising a printing assembly at said Decorating stationcomprising a plurality of print applying means for applying printingfluid to said decoration-receiving surfaces of said objects, a supplymeans adapted when actuated to supply printing fluid directly to saidapplying means, means to move said print applying means sequentiallypast said supply means and said decorating station in synchronism withthe movement of said objects past said decorating station, each of saidprint applying means in sequence picking up printing fluid directly fromsaid supply means and applying said printing fluid to thedecoration-receiving surfaces of said object at said decorating station,and means to actuate said supply means each time one of said printapplying means moves therepast, to dispense a separate measured amountof printing fluid to each of said print applying means on each saidactuation.
 2. The decorating machine of claim 1, wherein said objectmoving means includes means for holding objects with their decoratingsurfaces facing said decorating station and for permitting said objectsto rotate about an axis substantially parallel to said surface andsubstantially perpendicular to said given direction, and means at saiddecorating station to rotate said objects relative to said holding meansas said printing fluid is applied by said applying means.
 3. In adecorating machine for printing a decoration on the surface of an objectat a decorating station, having means for moving said objects past saiddecorating station in a given direction with their decoration-receivingsurfaces facing said decorating station, the improvement comprising aprinting assembly at said decorating station comprising a plurality ofprint applying means for applying printing fluid to saiddecoration-receiving surfaces of said objects, a supply means adaptedwhen actuated to supply printing fluid directly to said applying means,means to move said print applying means sequentially past said supplymeans and said decorating station in synchronism with the movement ofsaid objects past said decorating station, each of said print applyingmeans in sequence picking up printing fluid directly from said supplymeans and applying said printing fluid to the decoration-receivingsurfaces of said object at said decorating station, and means to actuatesaid supply means each time one of said print applying means movestherepast, thereby to dispense a separate measured amount of printingfluid to each of said print applying means, said supply means comprisingcontainer means having an aperture, closure means effective in a firstposition relative to said container means to closs off said aperture toprevent the flow of printing fluid therethrough, and means operativelyconnected to said applying means moving means to move said closure meansto a second position, relative to said container, in which said apertureis open to permit the flow of fluid therethrough.
 4. The decoratingmachine of claim 3, wherein said closure means comprises shutter meansmounted outwardly of said container means and movable relative thereto.5. The decorating machine of claim 4, wherein said container iscylindrical and wherein said aperture means comprises an axiallyextending slot therein, said shutter means being cylindrical and beingmounted concentrically of said container and also having an axiallyextending slot therein, said container being rotatable within saidshutter cylinder to bring said container slot into and out ofregistration with said shutter slot.
 6. The decorating machine of claim5 further comprising a rotatably mounted shaft, said container beingfixed on said shaft for rotation therewith, linkage means operativelyconnected to said shaft for rotating same upon actuation thereof, meansto bias said linkage means to a first position wherein said containerslot is out of registration with said shutter slot and means on saidapplying means moving means to actuate said linkage means thereby torotate said shaft to bring said conTainer slot into registration withsaid shutter slot.
 7. The decorating machine of claim 6, wherein saidcontainer means is mounted with its axis extending vertically andwherein said axially extending slot in said container means is taperedfrom top to bottom thereby to account for fluid pressure differentialswithin said container.
 8. The decorating machine of claim 7, whereinsaid tapered slot in said container means has a width at its reducedbottom end substantially equal to the width of said shutter slot.
 9. Thedecorating machine of claim 8 wherein said tapered slot has a first sidewall substantially vertical and a second side wall inclined upwardlyaway from said first side wall.
 10. In a decorating machine for printinga decoration on the surface of an object at a decorating station, havingmeans for moving said objects past said decorating station in a givendirection with their decoration-receiving surfaces facing saiddecorating station, the improvement comprising a printing assembly atsaid decorating station comprising a plurality of print applying meansfor applying printing fluid to said decoration-receiving surfaces ofsaid objects, a supply means adapted when actuated to supply printingfluid directly to said applying means, means to move said print applyingmeans sequentially past said supply means and said decorating station insynchronism with the movement of said objects past said decoratingstation, each of said print applying means in sequence picking upprinting fluid directly from said supply means and applying saidprinting fluid to the decoration-receiving surfaces of said object atsaid decorataing station, and means to actuate said supply means eachtime one of said print applying means moves therepast, thereby todispense a separate measured amount of printing fluid to each of saidprint applying means, wherein said object moving means includes meansfor holding objects with their decorating surfaces facing saiddecorating station and for permitting said objects to rotate about anaxis substantially parallel to said surface and substantiallyperpendicular to said given direction, and means at said decoratingstation to rotate said objects relative to said holding means as saidprinting fluid is applied by said applying means, wherein said supplymeans comprises container means having an aperture, closure meanseffective in a first position relative to said container means to closeoff said aperture to prevent the flow of printing fluid therethrough,and means operatively connected to said applying means moving means tomove said closure means to a second position relative to said containerin which said aperture is open to permit the flow of fluid therethrough.11. The decorating machine of claim 10, wherein said closure meanscomprises shutter means mounted outwardly of said container means andmovable relative thereto.
 12. The decorating machine of claim 11,wherein said container is cylindrical and wherein said aperture meanscomprises an axially extending slot therein, said shutter means beingcylindrical and being mounted concentrically of said container and alsohaving an axially extending slot therein, said container being rotatablewithin said shutter cylinder to bring said container slot into and outof registration with said shutter slot.
 13. The decorating machine ofclaim 12 further comprising a rotatably mounted shaft, said containerbeing fixed on said shaft for rotation therewith, linkage meansoperatively connected to said shaft for rotating same upon actuationthereof, means to bias said linkage mechanism to a first positionwherein said container slot is out of registration with said shutterslot and means on said applying means moving means to actuate saidlinkage mechanism thereby to rotate said shaft to bring said containerslot into registration with said shutter slot.
 14. The decoratingmachine of claim 13, wherein said container means is mounted with itsaxis extending vertically and whereIn said axially extending slot insaid container means is tapered from top to bottom thereby to accountfor fluid pressure differentials within said container.
 15. Thedecorating machine of claim 14, wherein said tapered slot in saidcontainer means has a width at its reduced bottom end substantiallyequal to the width of said shutter slot.
 16. The decorating machine ofclaim 15, wherein said tapered slot has a first side wall substantiallyvertical and a second side wall inclined upwardly away from said firstside wall.